Windshield-operating mechanism



Feb. 17, 1931. H. G. THUNDER 1,792,566

' WINDSHIELD OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet '2INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 17, 1931 PATENT oFFmE HAROLD Gr.THUNDER, OF DETROZT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOTOR FROIDUGTSCORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION, OF NEW YORKWINDSI-IIELD-OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed. May 27, 1929. SerialNo. 366,395.

This invention relates to windshield operating mechanism and moreespecially to improvements therein which tend to simplify theconstruction, render the same durable and provide a structure which maybe quickly and economically manufactured in large quantities andassembled with facility. a

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a mechanism of thischaracter having a housing constituting an integral structure stampedfrom a single sheet of metal. As a consequence of the integral housingstructure this invention contemplates a construction of the remainingparts in such a manner that they may be readily assembled within theintegral housing.

The herein described construction and organization of parts includes arotatable screw shaft, a travelling nut mounted there on and a rockerarm or link pivotally supported by the housing and connecting saidtravelling nut to the windshield, and the invention has therefore as afurther object to provide an improved construction of rocker arm whichmay be formed as a stamping from sheet metal.

The invention also has as one of its important objects to provide animproved con struction of actuating shaft and an improved means forassembling and mounting this shaft with respect to the housing.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of thisinvention will become more apparent as this description proceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a windshield operatingmechanism constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially onthe plane indicated by line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially011 the plane indicated by line 4E4L- in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary separated perspective view of a portion of awindshield showing the manner in which the operating mechanism isassociated therewith;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the planeindicated by line 66 in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective View of the rocker arm; and

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of the travelling nut.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts, it will be noted that there isillustrated in Figure 1 a header 10 to which the housing or casing 11 ofthe operating mechanism is attached. Attachment is made by means oflaterally extending ears or flanges 12, perforated as at 13 to permitthe passage therethrough and into the header of securing elements 1 1.

The housing or casing 11 is of an integral one piece constructionstamped from a single sheet of metal and shaped to provide the flangesor cars 12 as well as a pair of opposed aligned apertures 15 and a pairof opposed aligned apertures 16 constituting trunnion bearings orsupports Rotatably or rockably journalled in the apertures 16 is abearing member or trunnion block 17 provided with a transverselyextending bore or aperture 18 and with opposed recesses, providing fiatbearing faces or surfaces 19. Rotatably and rockably j ournalled in thebearing member 17 is a screw or operat ing shaft 20. This shaft extendsthrough the aperture 18 and is provided with an annular collar orabutment 21 which engages one of the faces 19. Surrounding a reducedportion 22 of the shaft 20 is a sleeve 23, which, with one of its endsengages the other face 19 of the bearing block 17. The end ofthe shaft20 is threaded as indicated at 24 to receive a nut 25 which holds thesleeve 23 in the position indicated in Figure 3. This construc tionpermits of the ready assembling of the shaft 20 with its bearing block17 and acts to permit rotation of the shaft but resists end thrustsimparted thereto.

In assembling this part of the device the trunnion block or bearingmember 17 is inserted from the side of the housing through the alignedapertures 16. The shaft is then inserted through the bore 18 of the beaning member until the collar 21 formed thereon engages the adjacent face19. The sleeve 23 is then slipped on to the projecting end of the shaftand extends through an oval shaped aperture 26 formed in the housing.The width of this aperture is substantially equal to the diameter of thesleeve 23, so that no lateralrnovement of the shaft ispossible. Also theshaft may rock vertically or in the plane of the central longitudinalplane of the housing. Thus when the parts are assembled as justdescribed, no other means for holding the trunnion block in place isnecessary, and it will be obvious that this construction eliminates thenecessity for threaded or other securing elements.

The end 27 of the shaft is squared or otherwise adapted to engage thecorrespondingly shaped aperture in the handle 28. This handle is securedin place by means of ascrew 30 threaded into theen'd of the shaft 20.The housing or shell 31 of the handle engages the nut 25 on oppositesides thereof and acts to lock the nut to the shaft.

Mounted on the shaft 20 is an actuating element in the form of atravelling nut 32. As shown more particularly in Figure 8, this nut isprovided with opposed flat surfaces 33 from which trunnions 34 project.It will be obvious that rotation of the shaft 20 causes a movement ofthe nut 32 longitudinally of the shaft.-

The actuating member 32 is connected to the windshield by means of arocker arm indicated generally by the reference character 35 andillustrated in perspective in Figure 7. The construction of this rockerarm is such that it may be stamped from a single sheet of metal and bentto provide a bifurcated portion consisting of a pair of similarly shapedarms36. The ends of these arms are apertured as indicated at 37 forengagement with V the trunnions 34 of the travelling nut 32.

In assembling the rocker arm with the travelling nut the arms 36 aresprung apart so that the apertures 37 thereof may be brought intoengagement with the trunnion 34 and then the two arms are held togetheragainst accidental separation by means of a screw 38,- v extendingtransversely thereof. The rocker arm 35 is pivotally supported on thehousing 11 by means of a trunnion member 39, extending through thealigned apertures l5 formed in the casing and through the alignedapertures 40 formed in the rocker arm.

The lower end of the rocker arm has a shape corresponding to the crosssectional configuration of the frame 41 of the windshield with which theoperating mechanism is tobe connected. The frame is provided with anaperture 42 to permit the insertion therein of the lower end of therocker arm.

This rocker arm is rigidly connected to the windshield frame by means ofbolts or screws 43 and 44. The screw 43 passes through aligned apertures45, 46 and 47, formed respectively in the windshield, rocker arm andtrunnion member. Thus when the trunnion member has been properlypositioned and the screw 43 secured in place, accidental displacement ofthe trunnion member is prevented and no other means for securing theseparts in position is necessary. The end of the trunnion member may ifdesired be provided with a slot 48 by means of which the trunnion membermay be rotated to align the aperture 47 thereof with the apertures and46. The bolt 44 extends through aligned apertures in the windshieldframe and through an aperture 49 in the lower end of the rocker arm.

l'Vith thisconstruction it is obvious that the operating mechanism maybe assembled as a unit and then quickly and conveniently assembled withand connected to the windshield. Thisis of practical importance in theart because the windshield can be assembled with the remainder of thecar by the car manufacturer and the operating mechanisms, which arefrequently manufactured by someone other than a car manufacturer, may beshipped as complete units and installed after the car has beenassembled.

It will be apparent that the herein described construction is such thatthe number of parts required in mechanisms of this character have beenreduced to a minimum and that the design of the parts is such as toenable the same to be, to a large extent, formed by stamping from sheetmetal. The organization of the parts is such that they may be rapidlyand easily assembled and produce a strong, durable and commerciallypractical structure. lVlrile windshield operating mechanisms constructedconcisely in accordance with the details of construction hereinillustrated and described have been found in actual practice to giveentirely satisfactory results, it will be readily understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this invention, and to this end reservationis made to make such changes as may come within the purview of theaccompanying claims.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the character described, a housing provided withopposed aligned apertures, a trunnion member provided with a transversebearing opening axially insertable through said aligned apertures, ashaft extending through said bearing opening and through an opening insaid housing, said shaft having means engaging the sides of said housingopening preventing axial movement of said trunnion bearing member.

2. In a device of the class described, a windshield frame, a housingprovided with aligned connecting said rock arm to a windshield andopposed apertures, a rock arm formed with for preventing axialdisplacement of said aligned apertures, a trunnion member intrunnionmember.

serted axially through the apertures in said housing and rocker arm forrockably supporting said arm, and means extending through said frame andtrunnion member for preventing axial displacement of the latter.

3. In a device of the class described, a windshield frame, a housingprovided With aligned opposed apertures, a rocker arm formed with anaperture, a trunnion member inserted axially through the apertures insaid housing and rocker arm for rockably supporting said arm, and commonmeans for securing said rocker arm to said frame and for preventingaxial displacement of said trunnion member.

4:. In a windshield operating mechanism, a casing, a bearing memberrockably journaled in said casing, a shaft rotatably supported in saidbearing member, a collar on said shaft engaging one face of said bearingmember, a sleeve on said shaft having an end engaging the opposite faceof said bearing member and a nut threaded on said shaft engaging theother end of said sleeve.

5. In a Windshield operating mechanism, a casing, a shaft rotatablymounted within said casing and projecting outwardly through an openingtherein, an end thrust nut threaded on said shaft and a handle securedto said shaft and having a portion engaging said nut to preventaccidental rotation thereof.

6. In a Windshield operating mechanism a housing provided with alignedapertures in the side walls thereof, a bearing member insertable throughsaid apertures for rockable support therein, a shaft extending throughan aperture in said bearing member and through an opening in saidhousing whereby the engagement of said shaft and opening prevents axialmovement of said bearing member.

7. A windshield operating mechanism including a housing, a trunnionblock rotatably mounted in opposed apertures in said housing, a screwshaft rotatably ournaled in said trunnion block and projectingexteriorly of said housing through an opening formed therein, means onsaid shaft cooperating with said trunnion block for preventing axialmovement of said shaft, a portion of said latter means engaging saidhousing opening to prevent axial displacement of said trunnion block, atraveling nut on said shaft, a rock arm having a bifurcated portionengaging opposite sides of said nut and pivotally connected thereto,means pivotally mounting said rock arm on said housing including atrunnion member axially insertable through opposed aligned openings insaid housing and rock arm and common means for In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature.

HARQLD G. THUNDER.

